Temu promises to be a place where you can get everything you need (and want) for a minimal price. But I’m not buying into it (literally)—and there are several reasons why.

4

Temu Isn’t as Cheap as You Might Think

One reason why Temu is so popular is because items are listed for cheap. However, they’re cheap for a reason.

Paying for quality is very important to me, and I think there’s some truth in the “buy cheap, pay twice” adage. Even if they don’t cost a lot, items you buy that don’t last very long are still a waste of money.

Besides having to replace easily breakable items, you’ll probably spend more on items you don’t need. In my opinion, both of these are good reasons to consider deleting your Temu account.

I was guilty of overconsumption and hoarding in my early twenties, which largely came from having a scarcity mindset. I really dislike how Temu promotes overconsumption, and I believe that its “shop like a billionaire” slogan is the perfect example of this.

It’s very difficult to visit marketplaces like Temu and buy only one item. Many people inevitably find random stuff they don’t need and will use a few times at most. Those items will then gather dust until you get annoyed enough to throw them out or give them away.

Going back to the slogan, I’m pretty sure I would invest in higher-quality items if I were a billionaire—but maybe that’s just me.

2

Scams Are Prevalent on Temu

Though not a scam in and of itself, there are several scams on Temu that you should be aware of. From non-existent items to particularly bad products, shopping on the platform can be risky.

You might also find numerous faked tech products on Temu that break within a few times of using them. Even if you don’t spend a lot of money, getting scammed or misled is never fun.

Read more:

These Are the Most Commonly Faked Tech Products: Watch What You Buy

If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.

1

Temu Has Privacy Concerns

Maybe I’m being hypocritical here since I use apps like WhatsApp and Instagram, but Temu’s privacy concerns are something to take seriously. The company has been subjected to lawsuits in several US states, including Illinois and Arkansas. Per CSIS, some lawsuits have claimed that Temu does “not comply with security standards” while also allowing “its customers’ financial information to be compromised.”

Temu can also obtain information from other third-party tools you use, albeit with your permission. No platform is perfect with its privacy policy, but you need to decide if the risks are worthwhile. Given all the other issues with Temu, I’ve decided it’s not.